Clear DefinitionsPruned Node
1 min read
Pronunciation
[prohnd nohd]
Analogy
Think of pruning as clearing out old emails but keeping only recent threads and essential contacts for everyday use.
Definition
A blockchain node that discards old block or state data while retaining the minimal information needed to validate and relay new transactions.
Key Points Intro
Pruned nodes optimize storage by removing historical blockchain data.
Key Points
Storage efficiency: reduces disk usage dramatically
State retention: maintains current UTXO set or state trie
Validation: can validate new blocks but not historical queries
Dependency: relies on full nodes to fetch old data
Example
Technical Deep Dive
In Bitcoin, prune mode deletes block files older than a user-defined height while maintaining the UTXO set in LevelDB. Ethereum clients use snapshot or fast sync to prune intermediate trie nodes post-validation. Pruned nodes serve relaying functions but cannot respond to archival data requests without re-syncing missing blocks.
Caveat
Cannot serve historical data or reindex from genesis without a full resynchronization.
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